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Education

University of Arkansas School of Law J.D., summa cum laude (2015)
University of Arkansas, B.A., Political Science, Phi Beta Kappa (2012)

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Graham Talley

Member

Email:	gtalley@mwlaw.com
Phone:	(501) 688.8853
Location:	Little Rock
Bar Admissions:	Arkansas

Graham Talley leads the firm’s litigation practice group. A first-chair trial lawyer, Graham litigates and tries complex, multi-party and class action disputes for clients in the healthcare, insurance, retail and banking industries. In recent years, Graham has served as lead trial counsel more than a half dozen times, all in cases with millions of dollars at stake. His recent trial experience includes first-chair trial victories across a wide range of subject matter for clients across a wide range of industries.

Experience

Served as lead appellate counsel for a state constitutional officer before the Arkansas Supreme Court in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act, obtaining a complete victory on appeal in a landmark decision interpreting Arkansas’s sovereign-immunity doctrine.
As lead trial counsel, obtained a directed verdict during the second week of trial on behalf of Arkansas’s largest healthcare system and two affiliates in a wrongful death case involving misguided allegations of Medicare fraud and patient abuse.
Defended a national life insurer as lead counsel against conspiracy allegations and claims under the Arkansas Trade Practices Act, securing the dismissal of the client on a preliminary motion to dismiss.
Served as lead trial counsel in a professional liability case alleging catastrophic damages tried in state court in Phillips County, Arkansas, obtaining a total defense verdict following a week-long trial.
As lead trial counsel, defended a hospital system in a wrongful-death trial in state court in Mississippi County, Arkansas, resulting in a defense verdict following a week-long trial.
Represented Arkansas’s largest healthcare system as lead counsel in a lawsuit involving an allegedly contaminated medical device, leading to the voluntary dismissal of the client immediately prior to decision on a pending motion for summary judgment.

Led the expert workup of an eight-figure contract dispute for a multinational wholesale retailer, resulting in the dismissal of more than 95% of the plaintiff’s claimed damages.
Served as trial counsel in a complex, multi-party professional liability action, obtaining the dismissal with prejudice of the client on a dispositive motion on the first day of a two-week trial.
Represented a national automobile insurer in a class action involving the adjustment of personal injury protection, or “no-fault” insurance claims, defeating the certification of a proposed class comprised of more than 1500 members.
Defended a publicly traded pharmaceutical company in state-court proceedings arising from the use of an injectable contraceptive, resulting in a dismissal with prejudice following the entry of summary judgment in favor of the client on preemption grounds.
Represented multiple national insurance carriers in class actions involving the adjustment of first-party, total-loss automobile claims, obtaining complete dismissal in favor of the clients on Rule 12(b)(6) motions.
Defended national health services company in litigation involving alleged violations of state “any-willing-provider” laws, obtaining the dismissal of the client on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.

Professional Recognition

Chambers USA: Litigation Medical Malpractice Defense in Arkansas (2025)
Recipient, W.A. Eldredge, Jr. Award (2024)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2022-2025)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2021-2025)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants (2021-2025)
Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars: Civil Litigation: Defense (2022-2024)
Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars: Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Defense (2019-2021)
High Academic Achievement Award (2015)
Joe C. Barrett Commercial Law Award (outstanding graduating law student in business law) (2015)
Outstanding Contribution to Law School Publications Award (2015)
Henry M. Alexander Memorial Award (top undergraduate student in political sciences) (2011)

Involvement

Arkansas Bar Association
Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel
Chair, Mitchell Williams Litigation Practice Group
Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Create Little Rock (2020)
Ex-Officio Member, Board of Directors, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce (2020)
Planning Committee, Heifer International Urban Farm Fest (2018-2020)
Editor-in-Chief, Arkansas Law Review (2014-2015)

News

Articles

Publications

Book Chapters

Lyn P. Pruitt & Graham C. Talley, Chapter 38, Arkansas, A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions (ABA Publications 3d ed. forthcoming 2021) (Marcy Hogan Greer ed.).

Presentations

"Trial Technology: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Aisle" presentation panel, Arkansas Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 2025